Comparison of Etanercept Monotherapy and Combination Therapy with Methotrexate in Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from 2 Clinical Trials

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical/functional outcomes associated with etanercept (ETN) monotherapy versus combination therapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Data from patients with PsA who received ETN alone (n = 322) or combined with methotrexate (MTX; n = 152) for 24 weeks in 2 placebo-controlled clinical trials were summarized across studies.

Results: Similar proportions of patients in the monotherapy and combination therapy groups achieved the PsA Response Criteria (80% and 83%) and the American College of Rheumatology improvements of 20% (ACR20; both 70%); numerically higher proportions receiving monotherapy achieved ACR50 (55% vs 48%) and ACR70 (35% vs 27%). Little between-group difference was observed in the 28-joint Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index improvement.

Conclusion: ETN with and without MTX provided similar benefits in active PsA.

Keywords: BIOLOGIC; DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS; ETANERCEPT; METHOTREXATE; PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS.